Southampton XL Bully victim supports calls for ban

The 28-year-old was walking her dog at Nursling Plantation in Aldermoor Road, Lordshill, last November when an "out of control" Bully struck.

The unprovoked attack almost killed her Labrador and left her with bite wounds on her hands.

The dog owner, who asked to remain anonymous, believes the breed should be made illegal following the vicious attack on an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham on Saturday.

She said: “After experiencing an attack by an XL Bully, I’m fully in agreement with the banning.

“There’s clear evidence that they are unpredictable and easily out of their owner’s control.

“How many more attacks will it take from the same breed before steps are taken?”

Injuries to the 28-year-old's dog (Image: Submitted)

In footage of the attack in Bordesley Green, the 11-year-old girl can be heard screaming as she attempts to fight off the dog.

Two men who intervened were also bitten and taken to hospital.

Yesterday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she would be seeking "urgent advice" about banning the breed in the UK which she said poses "a clear and lethal" danger.

But a Southampton dog shelter has raised concerns over a potential influx of Bullies in kennels.

Rose Milne, from the Second Chance Animal Rescue in Mansbridge, she said: “Our kennels could be full of XL Bullies, but we don’t have the facilities to house so many dogs at such a large size.

“They are huge, territorial dogs that need a lot of training – more training than may people are willing to commit to.

“You can’t raise an XL Bully in a one-bedroom flat – it is an accident waiting to happen.”

The XL Bully is a cross between Pitbull-type dog breeds and mastiffs.

In August last year, 34-year-old Ian Symes, known as Wiggy, was mauled to death by an XL Bully while walking his dog in Hillson Drive recreation ground in Fareham.

His death was not treated as suspicious and no charges were brought.

Bully owner Andy Smith, 39, from Hythe, organised the Southampton Bully Link Up last summer, which was aimed at dispelling some of the controversies surrounding the breed.

Speaking at the event last year, Andy said: "People give these dogs a bad name - because of bad owners, but they are some of the most loving dogs.

"We want to show people that they are lovely dogs when given good training and the owner has a good understanding of the breed."

Fellow organiser Chris Francis added: "Any type of dog can become aggressive if they're in the wrong hands - it's all about training."